"Another present was a board game involving endangered species. A board game -- there was that optimism again. Or she was doing what our mother used to do -- giving me something that required another person, so that I would have to bring another person into my life. I actually meet plenty of people. I even meet them traveling. Most people are basically pretty friendly. It's true that I still live alone, I'm just more comfortable that way, I like having everything the way I want it. But having a board game wasn't going to encourage me to bring someone home to play it with me."